MOOSE JAW -- With the South Rural Football League reaching the midpoint of the 2025 season this past weekend, it’s become very apparent that there’s going to be a fierce battle for playoff positions down the stretch.
The Balgonie Greenall Griffins did their part to keep the pace as they took a 27-7 win over the Peacock Tornadoes in Moose Jaw on Friday night.
The Griffins -- who reached the league final last season before falling to Moose Jaw Central -- improve to 2-1 and move into a tie for second place. Peacock falls to 1-2 and drop to fifth place, a game out of a playoff spot.
Nixon Brecht led the Griffins offence with 16 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown as Balgonie took a 7-0 lead out of the first quarter and led 13-0 at the half. Fellow ball carrier Keith Marks wasn’t far behind with 14 carries for 65 yards and a major.
Quarterback Jacob Steranko finished the game 7-for-14 passing for 85 yards, including a touchdown pass to Oliver Newman, who lead the Griffins’ receivers with three catches for 47 yards.
Steranko scored Balgonie’s other major in the fourth quarter as the Griffins pulled away with 14 points in the final nine minutes.
Nate Measner scored Peacock’s lone touchdown on a 17-yard catch with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter as the Tornadoes pulled within a single score of tying the game at that point.
Measner led the offence with four catches for 68 yards, while Raeyan Gebhart had 11 carries for 26 yards on the ground.
Ethan Durant completed nine of 16 passes for 95 yards but also threw four interceptions to go along with his touchdown pass.
Balgonie finished with 231 yards offence, Peacock with 113.
In other league action, the Central Cyclones continued to look completely dominant as they attempt to defend their league title, rolling to a 56-3 win over the Yorkton Raiders in Yorkton.
Central improved to 4-0 and become the first team to clinch a playoff spot, having outscored their opponents 186-25 in the process.
No score was available from the game between the Weyburn Eagles and Estevan Elecs.
League action continues Friday with Estevan at Swift Current at 5:30 p.m. and Balgonie at Yorkton at 7 p.m. Saturday action sees Weyburn at Peacock at 1 p.m.
